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Sunday May 5, 2013 5:22 AM

Dear Heloise: I always carry a plastic bag to pick up trash. Newspaper bags often
work well, as do supermarket bags (for bigger items). These bags don’t take up much space in my
pocket, and they can be dropped in a nearby trash can when filled. Picking up trash is quick and
easy, and it’s a good use for the many plastic bags that we accumulate. If everyone discarded his
or her unwanted items neatly, the environment would look much better and would be healthier.

— Cathy in Gaithersburg, Md.

Dear Heloise: I have to administer liquid medication to my cat with a syringe. The
medication is sticky. To avoid spills, I place the cat’s mouth over his food bowl. Any spillage
falls directly into the food, so there are no sticky spots to clean up, and he will eventually
consume any spilled medication.

— Tom W., Grapevine, Texas

Dear Heloise: My daughter isn’t fond of having to tie her tennis shoes. She always
seems to be in a hurry. So instead of purchasing costly locking-type shoestrings, which make tie
shoes into slip-ons, I recently purchased a handful of “cord locks” on the Internet.

They are inexpensive — a few cents each. They are so easy to use. Just lace the shoe as usual,
and slide a cord lock on the ends of both sides of the laces. From there, tie a small knot at the
end of the laces, and use the cord lock to slide the laces tighter or looser. It is a great way to
make all tie tennis shoes into “slip-ons.” — Susan in OhioDear Readers: Other uses for wine
corks:

• Cut a slit in them and make place-card holders.

• Make a corkboard by gluing a bunch of them to a piece of wood.

• Use them in a tackle box to hold extra hooks or as bobbers.

• Use them to plug a bottle if the top goes missing.

• Glue them to the bottom of a plant pot so it won’t scratch the floor.

Dear Heloise: Here is a handy (and frugal) hint for your readers who hate throwing
away used plastic sandwich bags. After lunch, I take the bag home. If it is still in good repair, I
wash it with a little warm water and dish soap and put it in the drying rack. The next day, I use
the bag again. I save money and feel as if I’m helping the environment at the same time.

— Eric M., via email

Dear Heloise: I purchase extra-large containers of shampoo and conditioner from
the hair salon. They are too good a bargain to pass up. But I couldn’t lift them in the shower,
much less pour the amount needed.

I found a package of two containers that were just the right size. They are standard-sized
mustard and ketchup containers. I snipped the tops a little so the liquid would pour easily. I used
a permanent marker to mark them.

— Carol M. in Pennsylvania

Dear Heloise: After finishing a large jigsaw puzzle, before breaking it up to put
in the box, I take off the straight-edge pieces and put them in a plastic bag. It is so nice, when
deciding to put the puzzle together again, not to have to wade through 500 or 1,000 pieces to find
the straight edges and get started on the picture.

— Marion W. in Florida

Heloise answers letters only in her King Features Syndicate column. Write her at P.O. Box
795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; or by fax to 210-HELOISE.